Music, food part of Open Hearth Park opening

The Cape Breton Post

SYDNEY — The official opening of Open Hearth Park, which was created following the remediation of the Sydney tar ponds, will have a three-day celebration of cultural performances and concerts next month.

Details on the new chapter in Sydney’s history were unveiled at a news conference at the Joan Harriss Cruise Pavilion, Thursday.

It will mark the end of the majority of the work at the former Sydney tar ponds and coke ovens site following 10 years of remediation. Until the late 1980s, the site was home to the Sydney Steel plant.

The section of the park north of Ferry Street isn’t expected to be complete until October.

The celebration called Stronger Than Steel will kick off on Friday, Aug. 30 with the official opening of Heart of Steel, and a screening of the short documentary, “Are You From the Pier, Dear?”

The weekend will have activities for the whole family, including a multicultural festival.

On Saturday morning, Aug. 31, the public is invited to join in on a drum circle, and will be able to tour a Mi’kmaq cultural village.

A musical production on that Saturday evening will take the audience on a historical journey ending with fireworks. Musical performers include the Barra MacNeils, Lennie Gallant, Men of the Deeps, Kyle Mischiek, Sons of Membertou, and Maynard Morrison and Bette MacDonald.

Food from the Right Some Good “pop up” dining festival will be available.

Right Some Good will also present the Garland Canada Master Chef Face-Off where eight international chefs will showcase their talent in an exciting competition on Sunday, Sept 1.

“This event has been many decades in the making and we are excited to be presenting a celebration that is inclusive and touches on all aspects of the community’s rich history,” said Andree Gracie, president of Grey-Sea Artist and Event Management Inc., which is co-ordinating the events that weekend.